Directions

Drain juice from clams into a large skillet over the onions, celery, potatoes and carrots. Add water to cover, and cook over medium heat until tender.

Meanwhile, in a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Whisk in cream and stir constantly until thick and smooth. Stir in vegetables and clam juice. Heat through, but do not boil.

Stir in clams just before serving. If they cook too much they get tough. When clams are heated through, stir in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper.

Too many Catholics do not fast or abstain. We are facing one of the greatest times of tribulation the Catholic Church has ever seen. This time can be shortened by fasting and abstinence.

In the past, through His prophets, God warned of punishment and purgation because of national sins. God also told His People that such tribulation could be ameliorated by prayer, fasting and abstinence.

And, yet, the vast majority of Catholics do not do any fasting or abstinence.

Why?

People fall into categories of those who are just plain lazy and those who are greedy. I wrote about the forgotten sin of gluttony in Advent.

As a reminder for abstinence, here is the Vatican rule found here.http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-vi_apc_19660217_paenitemini_en.html

III. 1. The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, the products of milk or condiments made of animal fat.

2. The law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening, observing—as far as quantity and quality are concerned—approved local custom.

IV. To the law of abstinence those are bound who have completed their 14th year of age. To the law of fast those of the faithful are bound who have completed their 21st year and up until the beginning of their 60th year.

The evil of fast foods also interferes with people's sensitivity regarding eating.

Do you realize that your parishes could be fasting and abstaining to avoid persecution?

Too many trads are not acting like lay people, but acting like clerics.

We do not have the same call, the same vocation, as the priests or bishops.

We do not have the same work to do. Our work is to make holy the workplace, the home, the public sphere.

Our job is not to meddle with things which are not our responsibilities.

I am convinced that one reason why the Church is weak is that the laity want to act like priests and do priestly work instead of lay work. This not only reveals the sin of pride, but a denial of the necessity of the lay life.

One reason why there is so much evil in the world is that the laity has not gone out and evangelized. Instead of taking the Gospel into the world, beginning with the domestic church, people want to change things which are not their responsibilities.

Two areas come to my mind immediately as areas where the laity is not letting go of issue which are none of their business, but the business of bishops and priests.

One is the issue of the so-called dedication of Russia to the Immaculate Heart, and the second is the decision regarding Medjugorje.

These are decisions for the hierarchy. The Pope and the bishops decide and act on such things, not us.

While too many people are writing and doing work to push certain aspects of these topics, the real work of the laity suffers.

When is the last time you spoke of Christ and His Church to someone at work?

When was the last time you invited someone to attend Mass with you or with your family?

When was the last time you tried to get a lay community going in your parish?

When was the last time you prayed at home with your family and made time for your spouse to pray daily?

Are you tithing?

Are you going to daily Mass and weekly Adoration?

When was the last time you took part in faith formation for the laity in your parish?

The work of the laity is strenuous and demanding.

Let the priests and clergy do their work, and do your work. If the laity were really doing the work God has called us all to do, the Church would be stronger.

We need role models who are lay people, regardless of rank or status. St. Casimir, like St. Edward, is called "confessor" as he was willing to stand up for the Faith in public-to confess his faith.

However, this role model died at the very young age of 23 or 25, depending on the source, after being persecuted by his father, and misunderstood by his family. He was a true intellectual genius of sorts as well as being a young man of peace and charity.

To be a prince is not to be a person who can choose one's life. Casimir was able to become holy in a short period of time, being blessed at such a young age with graces of charity and piety.

We need young saints. We need role models who are in the world but not of the world.

St. Casimir is one. His dates areOctober 3, 1458 – March 4, 1484. He is the patron saint of both Lithuania and Poland.

We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has ever experienced. I do not think the wide circle of the American Society, or the wide circle of the Christian Community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-church, between the Gospel and the anti-gospel, between Christ and the antichrist. This confrontation lies within the plans of Divine Providence. It is, therefore, in God’s Plan, and it must be a trial which the Church must take up, and face courageously…

We must prepare ourselves to suffer great trials before long, such as will demand of us a disposition to give up even life, and a total dedication to Christ and for Christ. With your and my prayers, it is possible to mitigate the coming tribulation, but it is no longer possible to avert it, because only thus can the Church be effectually renewed. How many times has the renewal of the Church sprung from the shedding of blood? This time too, it will not be otherwise. We must be strong and prepared and trust in Christ and in his Holy Mother and be very, very assiduous in praying the holy rosary.Thanks to a reader. There is a confusion as to the source, so I share an article on this quotation itself. Attributed to Blessed John Paul II from a talk he gave to the American bishops in September, 1976.https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/john-paul-ii-said-what-now

Leon Bloy

Guild of Blessed Titus Brandsma

The Church Must Not Be Defensive

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Too many Church leaders do not think, or do not think as Catholics

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GUILD PRAYER

God our Father, source of life and freedom, through Your Holy Spirit you gave the Carmelite, Titus Brandsma the courage to affirm human dignity even in the midst of suffering and degrading persecution.

Grant us that same spirit so that, in refusing all compromise with error we may always and everywhere give coherent witness to Your abiding presence among us.